The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has considered the initial report of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on how that country implements the provisions of the Covenant.

Introducing the report, Ljupco Meskov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, said there was still a lot of work to be done in the country, especially in the area of employment, social rights, healthcare, and advancement of the position of women with the purpose of uniform implementation of all provisions of the Covenant in all areas

The FSC, now under Canadian chairmanship, deals with arms control issues as well as peace and confidence building in the OSCE area. The forum presented an interesting mix of countries, including some of the "pioneers" of the Ottawa process, some of the Mine Ban Treaty's staunchest opponents, mine affected countries, stockpilers

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

The United States congratulates the Republic of Macedonia on the successful clearance of landmines from its territory. Macedonia joins the growing number of countries that are no longer significantly affected by landmines leftover from past conflicts. The United States is pleased to have played a role in this success, having contributed over $1.6 million to humanitarian mine action in Macedonia from 2001- 2003 through the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance,

INDONESIA -CENTRAL JAVA AND YOGYAKARTA - EARTHQUAKE AND MT MERAPI VOLCANO

On 27 May, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on Richter scale struck Yogyakarta Province. The epicentre was approximately 37.2 km south of Yogyakarta at a depth of 33 kilometres. The most affected districts were Bantul and Kulonprogo south of Yogyakarta. The death toll stands at 5,778. The number of injuries stands at 37,912. 205,888 homes have been completely destroyed. 406,166 additional houses have suffered earthquake damage.

Immediately after the earthquake, OCHA

This situation report is based on information provided by the office of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Situation

1. In early August 2006, heavy rains caused floods and mudflows in the two poorest suburbs of Skopje, the capital of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The floods mostly damaged two suburbs, Cento and Singelic, mainly built after the earthquake of 1963.

2. The affected areas were located northeast

Period covered: 1 January to 31 May 2006

Appeal target: The appeal budget for 2006-2007 was revised from CHF 3,925,000 (USD 3,152,415 or EUR 2,498,000)

REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS

INDONESIA: MORE THAN 350,000 FAMILIES URGENTLY NEED TRANSITIONAL SHELTER

On 5 July JRS Indonesia supported a call by the UN Coordination Centre in Yogyakarta for urgent additional funding to address the need for transitional shelter for the more than 350,000 families (over 1.5 million individuals) made homeless by 27 May's earthquake in the Indonesian province of central Java.

This figure amounts to three times the

SKOPJE, July 7, 2006 (AFP) - Macedonia faces a summer of fraught political talks between possible partners in a new government after a moderate nationalist party won an overwhelming victory in largely peaceful elections, analysts said Friday.

The election victory of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party led by former finance minister Nikola Gruevski over the ruling Socialists failed to give it an outright majority.

It won 55 of the parliament's 120 seats with 32 percent of the vote.

"If all deadlines are respected,

Its lights blaze the message that this is a Christian country.

Clearly no one told Tetovo, a 20-minute drive to the west in the heart of Macedonia's 500,000-strong Albanian minority.

On the eve of a general election in Macedonia on Wednesday, this grey city is alive with the red and black of the Albanian national flag, slung from balconies and speeding cars.